Ntshavheni tells young South Africans: your country, your future, go and vote

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has urged eligible South Africans to turn out for the local government elections on Wednesday, 4 November, and asked young people in particular to choose councillors they can hold to account.

Approved special votes will be cast on 2 and 3 November. “If you have registered for a special vote, we call on you to go and vote,” Ntshavheni told SAnews.gov.za.

She was speaking after leading the Kliptown leg of the #LoveYourStreet campaign, where she handed over refuse bins and planted trees as part of government’s efforts to promote community pride, active citizenship and clean, safe neighbourhoods.

Ntshavheni tied the vote to the generation that came before it. “The freedom we enjoy today was not free. Young people lost their lives in the struggle for freedom, including Solomon Mahlangu, Tsietsi Mashinini, Hector Pieterson and many others,” she said.

She recalled that on 16 June 1976 thousands of young people in Soweto protested peacefully against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools, and said their sacrifices helped advance the struggle for freedom, justice and equality.

“They lost their lives fighting for this freedom, so it is important for young South Africans to remain engaged. Freedom is meaningful only when we build on it, and rights are meaningful only when we exercise and strengthen them,” she said.

“We must continuously work to protect our freedom. Freedom means not only access to education, but also access to economic opportunities. Achieving those things requires participation and activism.”

She said activism begins with exercising the right to vote, “getting up and voting for the government and councillor of your choice.”

In municipal elections voters choose representatives and political parties to serve on municipal councils, giving them a say in decisions affecting their communities. Elected councillors are responsible for improving communities and ensuring residents receive services.

Ntshavheni told voters to weigh who they put in that seat. “Do not vote for a councillor who serves only personal interests. Vote for someone you can hold accountable and engage about community problems and challenges. Ask how they can contribute to building your community?”

“On 4 November, let us go out and vote in large numbers. Young people, this is your country and your future. Go and choose the councillors of your choice. It is your responsibility to elect a government that will lead you,” she said.

She assured the public that law enforcement agencies would be deployed to ensure safe elections and enable South Africans to exercise their right to vote.

Voters may cast a ballot only at the voting station where they are registered. The Electoral Commission urges voters to check their voting station details before election day. Voters can send their ID number via WhatsApp to 0600 88 0000 or by SMS to 32810 at R1 per SMS, and will receive the name of their registered voting station and their voters’ roll sequence number. Giving that number to election officials on the day helps them find a voter’s name on the roll faster.

This report is drawn from SAnews (South African Government News Agency), the government’s own account of the Minister’s remarks, at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/ntshavheni-calls-south-africans-vote-local-government-elections.